Switch socket



Patented pr. 4, 1`95 UNITED STATES 4im'rsly'r OFFICE SWITCH SOCKET y Frank Gradischnig, r., Milwaukee, Wis.

Application February 28, 1947', Serial No. '731,512

This invention relates to improvements in switch-equipped sockets for electric bulbs and the like, and the primary object of the invention is to provide a socket of this type which involves fewer than the usual number of parts and wherein the parts are themselves of simple form, whereby the socket can be manufactured at a worthwhile reduction in cost.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a socket of the character indicated above which is substantially foolproof against short circuiting and arcing, and in which the -installation and removal of a bulb can be performed more quickly and efficiently.

Other important objects and advantageous features of this invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanye ing drawing, wherein for purposes of illustration only two presently preferred embodiments of the invention are set forth in detail.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of the embodiment shown in Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a general transverse Vertical section taken therethrough, showing a bulb in place in the'socket; and showing the switch in off position in full lines and in on position in dotted lines;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of another embodiment of the invention, in which the switch element is rotatable for closing and opening the switch, instead of being movable endwise for this purpose, as in the embodiment shown in Figure 2; and partly in section to show details of the switch mechanism;

Figure 4 is a side elevation taken at right angles to Figure 3, partly in section to show further details of the switch mechanism;

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken in the line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is an exploded fragmentary perspective View showing details of the rotary switch element;

Figure 7 is a top plan of the spring socket element common to both embodiments, and

Figure 8 is a transverse vertical section taken therethrough.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and rst to Figures 1 and 2, the switch equipped bulb socket, generally designated I0, consists of an insulated, generally cylindrical body II formed in one end with a 'cylindrical recess I2 of a diameter to freely receive a threaded socket element I3, having a skeleton bottom I4 seated on and iixed to the bottom of the recess I2 by means of diametrically 1 Claim. (01. 200451.17)

k the other conductor 24 being connected by a screw to the'near end of a contactor rod 26 which,

opposed screws I5. The socket element I3 has the delay and trouble required for screwingthe.

base I? into or out of position in the socket element i3 although this may be done if desired.

To increase the spring tension and strength of the socket element I3, a split metal tension ring I9 may be circumposed thereon in the grooves 20 forming the threads of the socket element.

yAt 'its opposite end, the body Il has an axial recess 2l to protectively pass the usual conductors into the body, one such conductor 22 being passed through a bore 23 and connected by one of the screws I5 to the socket element I3, and

is threaded in an axial bore 21 formed through the body II and opening into the socket recess I2 in line with the vcentral base contact 2B of the base I'I of the bulb or the like I8. A second contactor rod 29 is threaded in the bore 21 to engage the bulb base contact 28 and has its opposite end spaced from the adjacent end of the contactor rod 26 at opposite sides of a transverse bore 30 formed diametrically through the body I I. The ends of the transverse bore 30 are flared as indicated at 3l' for a purpose hereinafter described.

For electrically connecting and disconnecting the contact rods 26 and 29, and thereby closing and opening the electrical circuit to the bulb or other tting engaged in the socket element I3, the longitudinally shiftable or reciprocable switch element 3| is provided, consisting preferably of two insulated round rods 32 and 33 arranged to slide in the bore 30 and having flared buttons or heads 34 on their outer ends, so arranged that when either button is pushed home it will slightly wedge in the adjacent ared bore end 30 and thereby retain the switch element in the on and off positions, as indicated in Figure 2.

The inner ends of the rods 32 and 33 are spaced and connected by a round contact 35 of the same or slightly greater diameter than the rods, having pins 36 extending from opposite sides thereof into the rods, so that when the switch element 3| is moved by manual pressure upon the buttons 34 to place the contact 35 between the contacts 26 and 29, the on" position of the switch mechanism obtains, this being, in the above described embodiment of the invention the dotted l position or left-hand of the switch element 3| the right-hand position being the off positi n.

the embodiment of this invention shown in Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6, and generally designated a, the construction is similar to that above described, but the switch element Sla is axially rotatable without--endwse movement, instead of being movable endwise, to achieve the on and 0E positioning of the switch mechanism.

In this case the switch element 3Ia consists of a dielectric rod 38 turning in one en-d of the trans, verse bore Sila and having a knurled knob 34a;

and a larger diameter dielectric rod 39 turning in a correspondingly enlarged, othervr end 4,0 oftheY bore 30a and having a knurled head Sila, both heads bearing against the exterior of the body Ila so as to preclude any substantial endwise movement of the switch element 3m. The inner en-dsofv the rods '3.3i and ,39 are spaced and connected by a contact 35a having ,a bore l42AI extending vaxially therethrough -to receive va threaded shank 43 `which extends from the inner end of rod 38 therethrough andv into a threaded axial recess 41| of rod 39. The contactpia has rflattened 0ppositev sides 44 vso, that when the switch element 31a 'isv turned by means of the. knobs or buttons 34a s'o that the flats 44; face the vcontract rods 26a and 2da, the electrical connection between these rods and the vContact 31511 which otherwise 0b:- tain's, will; be Vbroken vdue to `the spacing of the contact-35a from the rods thereby achieved.

In order to facilitate accurate operation of the switch `element 31rdand hold it in `on and offvv Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may obviously be resorted to, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter dened by the appended claim.

I claim as my invention:

In a switch structure comprising a body having a longitudinal and a transverse bore therethrough, a pair of rotary elements each of insulati'on, disposedk into the end portions of the transverse bore and provided with knobs at their outer ends, conductor elements in said longitudinal bore, a contact connecting the rotary 'elements and having flattened sides normally spaced from the conductor elements when said flattened sides opposed said conductor elements, said knobs abutting-the outer side of the body to prevent longitudinal movement of said rotary elements, and detent means carried by the body and engageable with one of the rotary elements, said rotary element having the detent means associated therewith being of greater diameter than the .other rotary element, ,said detent means consisting in the provision of a spring pressed plunger, the large rotary element being formed with longitudinal grooves for receiving the springpressed plunger.

FRANK GRADISCHNIG, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references areI of record in the file of this patent:

UNrrED sT-Arafs- PATENTS 

